The “Dominance” Of Tristan Wirfs
February 16th, 2025
Burgeoning national star.
The late, great Martin Fennelly, sort of an iconic sports columnist/humorist, who worked for both the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times, had a saying he often used.
That would be, “You can’t write enough about the stars.” Fennelly should have been a network TV executive. That’s the way national sports networks are programmed.
Feature the stars and the eyeballs will come. So who is the star with the Bucs? Probably Mike Evans, though he’s sort of a quiet type.
The quiet types get less buzz because, well, they prefer being in the background even if their play puts them on a pedestal. (This should apply to Lavonte David but his play never seems to put him on a pedestal even though his play has been elite throughout his career.)
Baker Mayfield is sort of a star. He certainly was in college and some of that shine has carried with him to the Bucs. He’s backed that up with his play, too. But this past offseason Mayfield has been David-like — staying in the shadows.
How about Tristan Wirfs? A two-time All-Pro, Wirfs just pulled off the unthinkable by being named All-Pro this past season for his play at left tackle after winning the award at right tackle. That was a first in NFL history.
Wirfs showed up at Radio Row at the Super Bowl and made appearances on big-time shows and podcasts. So Wirfs, arguably, if you combine his play with his newfound national media hype, is probably the Bucs’ star as we stand in the middle of February.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic recently documented how much of a hot streak Wirfs has been on.
Wirfs took a leap into dominance in 2024, not allowing any sacks in 638 pass-blocking snaps — and he’s held opponents without a sack for 776 consecutive pass-blocking snaps dating back to last season. He allowed one QB hit all season (to star edge rusher Maxx Crosby) and only allowed nine pressures in true pass sets.
That’s damn dominant. And Wirfs is only 26 (he turns 27 a week from tomorrow). So long as Wirfs stays healthy, damn, Joe can only imagine how good Wirfs can be.
Joe doesn’t think you could ask for a better player and a better guy for the Bucs to embrace as a star. And he’s just getting started.
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February 16th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Absolutely Amazing guy, he is already the greatest OL player in Bucs history let’s hope he becomes the greatest OL player in NFL history. He is definitely on his way.
February 16th, 2025 at 8:58 am
TOTAL MENSCH TOO
February 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Intelligent, great attitude, team player, all-round stand-up guy.
We’re really blessed to have him on the team!
February 16th, 2025 at 9:29 am
And bestie with Baker!
February 16th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Again I say we Bucs fans will be witnessing greatness on the field this year.
One HOF WR…a should be potential HOF LB…and an HOF OT.
The last time I remember the Bucs being loaded up with HOFers was the first SB team’s Defense. That was a truly special and historic group!
February 16th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Totally projecting to be Joe Thomas x 2. Thomas dominated for a decade and now does well as a talking head. Wirfs has a chance to be an (the?) all-time great on the OL with the added cache of having done it on both sides. He’s got a great future in broadcasting. I’d prefer it to be 10+ years down the road though.,
February 16th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Couldn’t agree more Joes! The dude has been great since he’s been here and is a star rising on the national scene. Most recently Jason Kelsey has been the O-lineman most often in the spotlight. I think a lot of that may have to do with his brother. Once people start seeing Tristan in interviews and old footage of him jumping out of pools and carrying big-arse trees on his shoulders, they’re going to latch on. I doubt commercials are too far away.
February 16th, 2025 at 11:35 am
Superb player and human. Jason and his team keep knocking it out of the park.
February 17th, 2025 at 4:29 am
So don’t put a slow or weak journeyman next to him!
Draft an elite LG in the 1st and or 2nd and solidly out line!
Get a Mauler like the Eagles have in Becht.
We have Wirfs and Barton.
We need an elite LG between them!
February 17th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Loving Wirfs attitude and abilities!